The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) and the International House of Japan (I-House) formed a strategic partnership on July 13th, 2022.
The connection between the two organizations dates back to January 2020 when OIST launched its Tokyo Office at the International House of Japan. Since then, OIST's Tokyo Office has hosted public lectures on quantum cybersecurity, energy, climate change, and more, and organized events to present OIST's research excellence to industry and other potential partners. I-House, now celebrating its 70th anniversary, hosts world-class intellectuals and promotes initiatives aimed at finding solutions to global challenges. Thus I-House provides an ideal location and network for OIST for pursuing its mission of "promoting the advancement of science and technology in Japan and throughout the world."
With the commencement of this strategic partnership, OIST will further strengthen these ties and build a mutual relationship with I-House through initiatives such as a lecture series featuring world renowned scientists.
Chairman of International House of Japan, James Kondo (left), and CEO and President of OIST, Dr. Peter Gruss (right)
In signing this agreement, Dr. Peter Gruss, CEO & President of OIST and Mr. James Kondo, Chairman of I-House made the following comments:
"After just 10 years, OIST is making bold steps towards becoming a global leader in cross-disciplinary research and technology transfer, while acting as a catalyst to foster a healthy innovation ecosystem in Okinawa and Japan. IHJ is now celebrating 70 years since its inception and is currently focused on having a greater global impact as a center of intellectual exchange in the Asia-Pacific region. We share other commonalities-both OIST and IHJ are international, and both take part in cultural and scientific exchanges. Naturally, we are excited to form a strategic partnership with IHJ. We look forward to building on our common interests and mutual strengths to advance science and technology and to craft a startup culture in Japan." -- Dr. Peter Gruss, CEO & President, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
"The societal impact of accelerating scientific and technological progress is immense. Whether such impact is positive or negative for mankind depends on our collective wisdom. I am delighted that this strategic partnership with OIST will lead to a deeper understanding of cutting-edge science and technology and a broader discussion of how it should be deployed in society. OIST is an important hub in Japan for the global science and technology community, and the fact that its Tokyo office is based in I-House is extremely meaningful." -- James Kondo, Chairman, International House of Japan
About OIST
OIST was founded in 2011, by the Japanese government to contribute to science and technology worldwide, attract leading researchers from Japan and abroad to conduct high-quality research, advance the development of a world-class research hub, and nucleate a knowledge cluster that will catalyze technology transfer and industrial innovation in Okinawa. As a pioneering graduate university, its mission is to conduct research that bridges disciplines to explore new frontiers of scientific knowledge, educate a new generation of scientific leaders and be a catalyst for an innovation hub in Okinawa.
About I-House
The International House of Japan is a private, non-profit organization incorporated, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and other private institutions and individuals, in 1952 for the purpose of promoting cultural exchange and intellectual cooperation between the peoples of Japan and those of other countries. It is a working international community engaged directly in a variety of programs that embody the free exchange and interaction of ideas and that strive to foster a climate favorable to international cooperation. https://ihj.global/
